Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-18 at 22:01

HEADLINES
Iran-US talks show progress; ceasefire expiry looming
Antisemitism surges worldwide; NYC and Europe
Israel schools fully reopen after ceasefire updates

The time is now 10:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, Iran’s top negotiator said recent talks with the United States had made progress but gaps remain over nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz, while President Donald Trump cited very good conversations with Tehran but warned against blackmail over the key shipping channel. Neither side offered specifics about the state of negotiations on Saturday, days before a fragile ceasefire in the US-Israeli war against Iran is set to expire. Iran’s remarks stressed that there is progress but a big distance still separates the sides, with officials noting there are some issues Iran insists on even as the other side has red lines. The war has killed thousands, spilled into Lebanon, and pushed oil prices higher as the Hormuz Strait’s tension and the broader conflict affect global energy flows. In a separate note within the same bloc, Arab and Muslim states condemned Israel’s plan to send a diplomatic envoy to Somaliland, calling the move a flagrant violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and warning it could destabilize the Horn of Africa; Somaliland rejected the criticism as hypocrisy and challenged critics to address other extremist threats.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Kamala Harris accused Prime Minister Netanyahu of pulling Donald Trump into the Iran war during a Detroit event, saying the conflict is not what the American people want and criticizing the Trump administration as corrupt, callous, and incompetent. She argued that Trump’s approach undermines US reliability to allies and compromises international norms such as sovereignty and territorial integrity. In a separate note from the Hebrew-language report, Donald Trump posted on Truth Social praising Israel as a steadfast ally, saying they are brave, bold, loyal, and smart, and asserting that they fight hard and know how to win, a contrast some observers see against other voices in the region as tensions over Iran and Hormuz persist.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, an opinion piece argues that Israel must be more than just the nation-state of the Jewish people, suggesting Israel should serve as an anchor for Jewish identity, culture, and global engagement and drawing on civilizational ideas to redefine its role alongside the modern state. Separately, the Education Ministry announced that the school system will fully reopen nationwide from Sunday morning, including northern communities near the Lebanon border, after updated security guidelines linked to ceasefires with Lebanon and Iran. The ministry said preparations were in place, that the return to full operation is non-negotiable, and that resources will be provided to close learning gaps and strengthen social resilience as students and staff return to classrooms.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, an opinion piece argues that the question is how bad conditions must become before Jews consider leaving, highlighting painful real-world examples. It points to a British Jewish six-year-old facing antisemitic insults at school, NYC reporting that more than half of confirmed hate crimes in the city are antisemitic, and a Toronto restaurant being attacked again, alongside thousands of antisemitic incidents across Europe in cities such as Berlin, London, Manchester, Amsterdam, and Antwerp, where security measures have included armed protection for Jewish communities. The piece frames these rising tensions as a clear signal that Jewish communities face ongoing, serious risks across multiple regions.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

SOURCES
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/trump-iran-cite-progress-talks-uncertainty-hangs-over-strait
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-893426
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-893432
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1311472
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-893086
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-893428
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-893268